Washout plug



- July 20,1926. 1,593,028

S. OTIS WASHOUT PLUG Original Filed Jan. 30, 1922 llllllllllllllll! Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SPENCER OTIS, OF BARRINGTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL BOILER WASH- ING CO. OF ILLINOIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WASHOUT PLUG.

Application filed January 30, 1922, Serial li'o. 532,902. Renewed December 7, 1925.

This invention relates to a washout plug for locomotives. Plugs for this purpose generally consist of a nipple-secured in the boiler plate at some point suitable for evacu- B ation of the boiler, and a cap screwed on the nipple to close the same when not in use. Difiiculty has been experienced in retaining the nipple in the boiler plate against the heavy internal pressure and particularly 1 under the disadvantageous conditions of I constant vibration and severe corrosion; also in making the cap secure upon the nipple. Deficiency in the security of these parts has been the cause of many accidents.

The present invention provides a secure washout closure in the situation referred to, and one which will be not only efficient in closing the opening against leakage, but durable in use, convenient in manipulation,and safe uarded against injury to its threads by unskilful handling.

One feature of the invention consists in providing, in the situation named, or in situations equivalent thereto, a nipple which is preferably of drawn steel tubing, threaded into the boiler plate and electrically welded thereto, and embodying in the outer end of this nipple, in addition to threads to i receive a screw cap, three important features of construction, namely, a cylindrical guid ing surface upon which a ca will fit and by which the cap will be gui ed and maintained coaxial withthem until, and while, the threads of the ca take into those of the nipple; also a tapere seat which will receive a correspondingly tapered seat of the cap to effect a hermetic closure; also a neck or extension on the nipple beyond the thread guiding surface and the seat which will serve as an effective protection against injury to the seat and guiding surface by the impact of tools that may be used around the nipple; the cap to be used in connection with such a nipple being provided, preferably of bronzethe preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration- Figure. 1 is an axial section, and Figure 2 a plan view of the new washout plug; and

Figure 3 is a view of a drop-forged blank from which the cap is preferably produced.

1 represents a boiler plate, 2 a washout nipple of iron or steel secured therein by threads 3 and electric welding 4:, and 5 represents a cap of bronze fitted upon the nipple through means of its flange 6 and threads which are external to the nipple and internal to said flange. The nipple is provided with cap receiving threads 7, and beyond said threads a guiding cylinder 8, beyond said guiding cylinder a tapered seat 9, and beyond said seat a protecting neck 10. The cap is provided with threads 7" which are adapted to not only engage the threads 7 but to fit closely upon the guiding cylinder 8 to support the cap coaxially with the nipple and revent the threads from crossing or being in ured through carelessness in applying the cap, and beyond said threads 7f, said cap is provided with a reduced bore 8" corresponding substantially to the cylinder 8, the tapered seat 9 which accurately fits the seat 9, and a recess 10 that admits the protecting neck 10.

The cap 5 is made by machining a blank 11 (Figure 3) of bronze or brass. The process of forging by which the blank is produced, is particularly advantageous in the production of the cap in that it improves the character of the metal entering into the threads 7 and seat 9 by condensing and' solidifying such metal. v

In addition to centering thecap upon the nipple by fitting the crests of the threads 7 upon the cylinder 8 with suflicient snugness to prevent tipping, the ends of the threaded sections are caused to meet with accuracy,

and thereby further insure proper re 'stry of the threads on the two members, an prevent crossing and ultimate stripping of the threads which is one source of great danger in closures of this kind as heretofore con structed.

- By making the nipple of iron or steel and the'cap of brass, bronze, or other soft metalor alloy, a tight self grinding seating of the two members can be insured, and the use of a packing to prevent leakage will be avoided.

I claim:

1. In a washout plug, a nipple having a threaded ortion, a tapered seat axially beyond its t readed portion, anda protecting neck beyond said seat, and a cap having an internal bore conforming to said threaded portion and seat.

2. In a washout plug, a nipple having a threaded portion, a tapered seat axially beyond its threaded portion, a protecting neck beyond said seat, and a cap having an internal bore conforming substantially to said threads, seat, and neck.

3. In a washout plug, a nipple constructed with screw threads extending over a portion of its length, with a cylindrical guiding portion between its threads and its outer end, with a tapered seat between the cylindrical portion and said end, and with a protecting neck between the tapered seat and said end; and a cap constructed with screw threads that intermesh with those of the threaded portion of the nipple, and the crests of which fit the cylindrical guiding portion of the nipple.

' 4. In a washout lug, a nipple having capreceiving threads, eyond said threads a'capguiding cylinder, beyond said cylinder a tapered cap-receiving seat, and beyond said seat a protecting neck; and a cap having threads constructed to fit said guiding cylinder with their crests, and to mesh with said nipple threads, with a seat conforming to the seat on the nipple, and with a recess to receive said protecting neck.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day of January, 1922.

SPENCER OTIS. 

